When someone on CG first suggested that I write a review for this album I had only listened a few times, and hadn’t fully gotten into it yet. I find that the best albums are the ones that don’t immediately grab me. My first reaction is intrigue, followed by head nodding, foot tapping, and finally…rabid fanaticism. This album has whipped me into such an evangelistic fervor that my normally phlegmatic self is actually putting finger to keyboard and writing a review.

For those who have never heard of Down before, perhaps you’ve heard of a band that two Down members were a part of - Pantera. Philip Anselmo (vocals) and Rex Brown (bass) are ex-Pantera, joined by Pepper Keenan (guitar) from Corrosion of Conformity, with Kirk Windstein (guitar) and Jimmy Bower from Crowbar. Down started as a side project back in 1995, and have since grown into a headlining act with a huge following.

Back to the album…

Many who were blown away by the classic first album NOLA were rightly disappointed by the hastily cobbled-together second album “A Bustle in your Hedgerow”. Well, Down have most definitely returned to classic form with “Over the Under”. Not that this album sounds like the first, but quality-wise it is on par or better. Down are much more than a simple Metal band, and some have compared them to Led Zeppelin in that they push their musical boundaries with every album.

There really aren’t any weak points on this album as even the track I initially thought average (“The Path”) has grown on me. I’ll go through a few of the highlights, but you’ll have to discover the rest of the gems for yourself. The first track “Three Suns and one Star” is a great, fast (for Down) opener. Several tracks on, “Beneath the Tides” opens with a sludgy Zeppelin-esque main riff and has a particularly passionate vocal performance from Phil. “Pillamyd” builds beautifully from the end of the soft “His Majesty the Desert” into a high-energy mosh-pit bashing sledgehammer, yet winds down with an epic bridge and harmonic ending. The real epic track, however, is “Nothing in Return (Walk Away)” - composed of simple riffs and melodies, its overwhelming strength is atmosphere and the emotion of the vocals.

I was never overly impressed by the second album, but if this album is the return to form that you suggest then it looks promising indeed. Either way, I'm certainly looking forward to hearing it for myself.

Gracias for the review.

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"In general, someone is a thing of value if and only if he or she is willing to submit to whatever degradation and abuse is required to preserve that position. Anything less betrays a lack of commitment." - Steve Albini

pfffrrt. i rather liked 'bustle.' fair enough it's not got the oomph that NOLA had, nor the soul that Over the Under professes, but it's far deeper than most of the cesspits that is offered by commercial music these days.